DETOXIFYING WITH SIERRA FLOWERS

As we move into Autumn, the time for harvesting the fruits of what we've created and grown from the previous seasons, it's a time for introspection, grounding. and invoking the transformation of another death/rebirth cycle. Like separating the chaff from grain, now is a good time to slough off and let go of those things which do not serve our highest good. This is a perfect time for detoxificationnot just of our physical bodies but of our psyches and subtle energy systems as well. There are some exceptional flower essence detoxifiers from our Sierra Nevada mountains that can aid us in our clearing out process.

One flower is Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentate) , also known as Antelope Brush, Quinine Bush, and Black Sage. In early spring, you'll notice the mass of light yellow flowers adorning the slopes. It's a favorite food of deer but gardeners tend to abhor this rough, scrubby bush. Vibrationally, Bitterbrush can help eliminate false psychic residue that is accumulated by being around people who are not grounded or synergized into their life's purpose. Just walking past this plant can give you a subtle message to remember to clear out your space.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) is a plant of 3' to 6' tall spires with vibrant rose-pink   flowers that grows abundantly in old burn areas, clear cuts, and other disturbed places. This says a lot about this plant's propensity for healing and regeneration. Made into a tea, it can provide mild laxative and antispasmodic effects. Humans can eat the young shoots but it is best to leave them for deer and other foraging animals.

Vibrationally, Fireweed deals with the dispersion of elements. It beaks up energetic blockage in the body due to things like judgment, false habits, rigidity, stuck energy, limitations of childhood energies, and social or economic restrictions. It's wonderful for loosening up first, second, and third chakra, basic earth-oriented survival needs like negative thought forms and imprinting, heavy density with regard to city and desensitized environments. It helps get new energy flowing through and opening up in preparation for connecting with higher planes. It's almost like an emotional/mental laxative in that it's a good fundamental essence for starting new projects, or setting out on a new course in life, or approaching stuck situations and trying to find the easiest, most appropriate balance and well-lubricated movement through that experience. It definitely has the fiery element and invocation of change, and invitation and wearing of new thought-forms. There are other plants that are more fiery in these terms but fireweed gives an early awakening and comprehensively gentler (not quite baby steps) breaking loose of intentionality.

Mountain Pennyroyal (Monadella odoratissima) is a low growing abundant perennial that gets your attention when hiking by its seductive fragrance and its clumps of white to pink to lavender flower heads. This plant can be made into a pleasant minty tea but caution is advised as large quantities are reported to have abortive properties.   This is another astringent essence that tends to go more into the first, second, and third chakras. It cleanses out that which is false and not in alignment with our highest purpose. It stimulates change in that direction as well. It clears out residue from negative experiences and in doing so, the tendency to go back into old behavioral patterns based on that residue. It can be a mental calmer, clearer, and stabilizer if there isn't any enormous amount of emotional clearing to be done. But mainly, it's a very potent instigator for emotional clearing.

The next flower is one of the saprophytes (non-photosynthesizers) that obtain their nutrients and carbohydrates from the decaying debris in the ground of pine forests. A relative of Snow Plant, Pinedrops   (Pterospora andromedea) have bell-shaped flowers that grow on a one to three foot stalk that comes up very reddish, turning to brown later in the season. They are sometimes used in dried floral arrangements. This detoxifier is good for the nervous system by aiding in the assimilation of elemental energies. It functions like a solvent to break down residue in our subtle bodies and chakras. It helps clear inorganic residue such as outmoded thoughts and beliefs, false internalized images or ideas, and other people's words that have carried alot of energy but are not healthy or appropriate. This can facilitate opening up to receive and assimilate energy within our natural environment more effectively.

The final plant is White-veined Mallow (Sidalcea glaucescens) , also known as Smooth Sidalcea. We see these common one-inch lavender to violet, bowl-shaped flowers in abundance along the trail and covering entire hillsides in mid-summer. This essence works with the lungs to help loosen up grief and lubricate emotions. It assists in releasing deep-seated body toxins from internalized emotions. It can soothe, reassure, and calm us by helping to restore a sense of simple innocence and safety from within our inner child and where that part of us connects to other realms.

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